Make Your Own Organic Cleaning Supplies

In honor of Cleaning Day at the Deneen Household, here is a fantastic video demonstrating how to make your own organic cleaning supplies.  I will be trying several of these out today.  Making  your own cleaning supplies is better for the environment (no harsh chemicals), and will save you money!

Cleaning Day

Today is cleaning day in our house.  I am planning to attack the clutter that has taken over the dining room table, but sometimes I lack the motivation to clean and I keep procrastinating.  There is never any end to the cleaning, and I can come up with about a million excuses not to clean.  When the house is not neat, I tend to get grouchy because I cannot find things, or I avoid having company over because the house is too cluttered.  

When I find myself putting off the cleaning, I go to FLYLady.net for some inspiration.  Her approach to keeping your house neat and tidy is brilliant.  You start with baby steps.  First, you keep your kitchen sink shining.  Then you work on  your morning routine, and one zone of the house. 

From the site:

Are YOU living in CHAOS?
(Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome)

Do you feel overwhelmed, overextended, and overdrawn?
Hopeless and you don't know where to start?
Don't worry friend, we've been there, too.

I have found FLYLady to be a terrific resource, and I hope you do too!

Alternatives to Buying New Books

Do you have a bunch of old books collecting dust on the shelf?  Want some new books?  Try one of these great swapping sites!  

Many of these sites feature printable postage, so you can mail right from your home -- very convenient AND frugal.  

Here are some terrific alternatives to buying new books:

1. Your Local Library --  Nothing beats your local public library.  It is free and convenient.  If they do not have what you are looking for, ask a librarian for an inter-library loan.
2. Paperbackswap.com -- Mail a book, get a book.  No late fees, or hidden charges.  Any book you request is yours to keep, share, or swap.
3. Titletrader.com -- Swap video games, CDs, DVDs, and used books.
4. Swaptree.com -- Trade books, CDs, DVDs, and video games.
5. Swapbooks.com -- Sell. Buy. Swap.
6. Bookmooch.com -- Swap books for free.
7. Booksin.com -- Any book or DVD for 4.49 postage.
   
8. CampusBookSwap.org -- College students can buy or sell used textbooks.
9. Whatsonmybookshelf.com-- Trade books using a simple point system.
10. Cash4Books.net -- Sell old books.  They pay shipping!  They will pay for used books 3 days after receiving them.

See one I missed?  Leave a comment and tell us about it!

Easy, Homemade Holiday Food Gifts

Good Housekeeping is featuring a great article on homemade holiday food gifts that anyone can make. Get the kids involved and make it a family activity. They are fast, frugal, and festive!

Save Money on Airfare and Travel

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and it is rapidly approaching.  Traveling does not have to be a huge expense with these money saving tips. You can enjoy a relaxing vacation, even while on a budget. 

Here are some great ways to travel without breaking the bank.

1. When to Book -- The best time to book your airfare is Wednesday from midnight to 1a.m. in the time zone of the airline's headquarters. For example, United is headquartered in Chicago, and Delta is headquartered in Atlanta. This happens to be the time when the computer systems of most airlines purge the records of the reserved but unbooked lower fare reservations. Take advantage of these low rates immediately after this occurs and you will save big bucks.
   
2. When to Travel -- Traveling during the off-peak season can have many perks. Not only do off-peak seasons offer considerably cheaper hotel stays, they also offer fewer crowds, less traffic, and shorter lines.
   
3. Coupons -- Consider purchasing an Entertainment coupon book for the city you will be visiting. These books are usually around $25, and can save you a considerable ammount of money on hotels, car rentals, restaurants, shopping and more. The Entertainment Book is also a great resource for ideas of things to do, and places to go.
   
4. Vacation with Friends -- One of the most memorable vacation experiences can be those shared with other family or friends. Split the bill for a large beach house, or a cabin in the woods. If there is a kitchen available, and you cook your own food, you will save even more money.
   
5. Food & Dining -- Again, the Entertainment Book can be a great resource for dining or eating out. All-you-can-eat buffets usually offer great deals. Also, filling up with a big brunch, skipping lunch, and going someplace nice for an early dinner can save you money while traveling. Find out if any restaurants near your destination offer an early-bird dinner special.
   

Frugal Gift Idea -- Learn to Knit

My MOMS Club recently got together at a local cafe for a knitting class, and we had tons of fun.  The kids played and watched some television while we learned how to knit.  It actually got me thinking about homemade Christmas gifts.  

A great way to save money on gifts this year is to make some yourself.  Here is a video tutorial to teach you how to knit.  (It's easy!)  Not only will you learn a new skill, but you will also be able to make gifts such as: scarves, dish clothes, place mats, etc.

Happy knitting! 

Make Your Own: Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix

The weather is getting colder, and it feels like one of those days to snuggle in and make a nice warm cup of hot chocolate.  The kids can help make the mix, and the entire family can enjoy this sweet treat -- without breaking the budget.  Here is one of my favorite recipes for inexpensive hot chocolate mix:

Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix

20 Crushed Peppermint Candies

1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar

1 1/2 Cups Powdered Coffee Creamer

1 Cup + 2 Tbsp. Powdered Baking Cocoa

Store in air-tight container.  To mix, add 3 heaping tablespoons of mix to 1 cup of hot water.

Get Ready to Read Skill-Building Activity Cards

Get your FREE set of skill-building activity cards here.  These are filled with great ideas to bring literacy skills into your home and daily routine.  They are free and easy to print out, and all 36 activity cards are available in Spanish or English.

Kids not doing their chores? Try Handipoints!

Are you having a tough time motivating your child to do chores?  Looking for a way to organize weekly allowances, or rewards for your child's hard work?  If so, try Handipoints.  From the site:

Handipoints is a free service to help parents and kids manage their chores and allowance. Easily create your own printable Chore Charts for all your child’s tasks. Set fun goals to motivate your kids. Shop for all kinds of rewards or create your own. Handipoints puts you in control.

I think this is a great resource for older kids, but for now my four year old is happy doing her chores "because I said so" and I am not about to mess with that!  How about you?  Have trouble getting the kids to do their fair share around the house?

Free Online Learning Games for Kids

If you are looking for ways to keep your child busy this winter, why not try some online learning games?  My daughter Emily (4) is a trained professional high-tech toddler.  Here are some of her favorite sites that offer free online learning games that your child is sure to enjoy.  

1. PBS Kids.org --  This is Emily's all-time favorite site.  Games feature Clifford, Sesame Street, Teletubbies, Curious George, and more.
2. BBC CBeebies --  Similar to PBS Kids, but with different games.
3. Discovery Kids --  Teach your child about animals, history, and science.
   
4. Ready Set Learn --  This is worthy of bookmarking.  The penguin is really cute!
5. Nick Jr. --  If you have a Dora the Explorer, Blues Clues, or Ni Hao Kai-Lan fan, this is the site to check out.
6. myNoggin --  Although this is not free, they do have a free 7 day trial period that is worth considering.
7. FisherPrice Online Games --  Games for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.
8. PlayKidsGames.com --  Lots of free online educational games for kids grades K-middle school.
9. Kaboose FunSchool --  Fun games including "Michael, Michael, Go Recycle".  
10. National Geographic Kids -- Has videos, games, activities, and stories.

Frugal Friday Challenge

Today's Frugal Friday Challenge is to find free or cheap entertainment for the weekend.  You can start by looking in your local newspaper or Craigslist for ideas.  Perhaps try a second run movie theater, go roller skating, or bowling.  You might have a community center that offers free movies or an open gym.  A huge component to living the frugal lifestyle is being aware of your local resources, so do some research!  Then come back and tell us what you did.

Cutting Expenses

During an economic downturn it is important to go through the family budget line-by-line to determine if there are ways to cut back on spending.  Here are some of the ways our family cut expenses and saved hundreds of dollars each month:

1. Cut the Cable -- Mark installed an antennae and now we get our T.V. for free.  For movies, we borrow DVDs from the library.  If there is a show we do not get over the air, we watch it on hulu.com. Savings: $40/month or $480/year
2. Adjust the Cell Phone Plan --  My cell phone contract had expired, so instead of renewing it, I switched to a TracFone for a pay-as-you-go plan.  I get the convenience of a cell phone when I am away from home, or for an emergency, but without the high bills.  Savings: $60/month or $720/year
3. Drive Less --  Now we group errands together to improve our gas mileage, and have less frequent trips to the store.  Savings: $100/month or $1200/year
4. Slash the Grocery Bill --  I started clipping coupons, and matching coupons to sale ads to maximize our savings.  Savings: $300/month or $3600/year
5. Adjust Insurance Deductible --  Keep in mind car and home insurance is to cover financial disaster only.  It is not to cover "inconvenience" bills or small repairs.  We increased the deductible on our home and car insurance.  Savings: $50/year
6. Save Electricity --  We adjust a programmable thermostat to 65 degrees in the winter to reduce our electric heating bill.  Also, we replaced all light bulbs with CFLs and line-dry clothes instead of running the clothes dryer.  Savings: $50/month or $600/year
7. No More Paper Towels or Paper Napkins --  We replaced these with reusable cloth kitchen towels and cloth napkins instead.  Savings: $10/month or $120/year

Total Savings = $564/month or $6,670/year!!

Cooking with Clara

Here is the sweetest little old lady demonstrating meals made during the Depression.  I find it hard to believe she is 91 years old.  Watch how she dices those potatoes!  You will love her!

Free Photo Book

In case you missed Oprah today, Snapfish is giving away a free 8 x 11 custom cover photo book to help viewers organize their kids' craft projects.  Click here for more information.

From the show:

Overwhelmed by what to do with growing piles of your child's art projects? Peter has a great solution! "Take digital photos of their artwork, upload them to Snapfish.com, and they will send you back a beautiful, bound book of the kids' artwork. So, over time, you can build a library of your children's artwork—let the pieces go, but keep them in this form forever."

Get your free book here.  Hurry, this offer is only good until Friday at 11:59pm PST! 

Free Family Activities

Finding free family activities for this time of year can be challenging.  Here are some ideas to keep your family busy, and avoid hearing the dreaded "I'm bored" whine.  Keep these ideas on hand and you won't be tempted to spend money on activities.  

1. Free Movies --  Your local library may have DVDs to borrow, or you can rent movies from RedBox for free on Mondays.  Click here for more information.
2. Museums -- Many museums offer a free day either every week, or once a month.  Contact some of your local museums for more information.
3. Free Class at Gymboree --  Sign up for a free class at Gymboree and your little one can enjoy lots of great indoor playtime.
   
4. Free Story Time at Barnes & Noble --  Foster a love of reading and take your child to story time at Barnes & Noble.
   
5. Free Craft Workshops at A.C.Moore or Michael's --  Your local  A.C.Moore or Michael's may have free workshops for kids to create craft projects.
   
6. Free Workshops at Home Depot or Lowe's --  Your local Home Depot or Lowe's offers free kids workshops.  Kids get an apron, certificate of achievement, and make a small wooden project.  

Holiday Giveaway

4 Hats and Frugal is having a holiday giveaway and one lucky person will win a Little Touch Leap Pad.  Click here to learn more.

Frugal Ways to Introduce Your Child to a Foreign Language

One of the most effective ways to enhance your child's brain development is by introducing a foreign language.  The younger your child is, the easier it will be to learn a foreign language.  Even if your child cannot speak in a foreign language just yet, simply exposing him or her to the sounds of a different language will make it easier for your child to speak without a foreign acccent.  Private lessons can be expensive, so here are some free or low-cost ideas to introduce your child to the world of languages.

1. Books, CDs or DVDs -- Your local library can be a great resource for learning a foreign language at any age, and may even have material geared specifically for children.  Talk to your librarian about books, audio CDs or DVDs you can borrow for free.
2. Try Muzzy -- Muzzy is produced by the BBC and is an award-winning course for children.  It is available in several languages including Spanish, French, Chinese, German and more!  You can sign up here to try Muzzy in your home for free for 30 days.
3. BBC Languages -- Another terrific resource, BBC Languages is available online for free.  It includes useful phrases, quizzes, videos, and audio files.   
4. Television -- If you have cable, browse your line up to see if any foreign language channels are included.  These may feature children's programming such as Plaza Sesamo (The Spanish version of Sesame Street.)  Set your VCR or DVR to record these programs so your child can watch them whenever your busy schedule will allow.
5. Free Online Courses -- Word2Word.com provides a list of free online language courses for several different languages.
6. Book Sales at Libraries or Churches -- Here you may find inexpensive language workbooks, audio CDs, textbooks, or movies.

Free and Low-Cost Blog Templates

Looking for some great templates for your blog?  Visit Split Decisionz for some fabulous budget-friendly templates (some are even free).  Give your blog a face-lift!

My Favorite Finds -- Top 5

Don't have the time to find the best online frugal resources?  No problem, here are a few of my favorite frugal internet finds filled with tips to save you money and time.  

1. No Time for Flashcards:  If you have a preschooler at home, this is one of the best resources for keeping your child busy without spending a lot of money.  Your child will learn and create some great projects.  
2. Money Saving Mom:  This blog has some of the best tips for saving time and money by sharing incredible deals at Walgreens, CVS, Wal-mart, and more.  
3. Frugal Mom Living:  Subscribe to this yahoo group and you will learn so much about frugal living.  This was one of the first steps towards saving our family hundreds of dollars a month!
4. Budget 101:  Find valuable information for frugal entertaining, crafts, coupons, and other money matters.
5. About.com Frugal Living:  Erin shares great money saving tips on this site.  Ideas for bargain shopping, Do-It-Yourself projects, and cutting down on holiday spending can be found here.

Have any good favorites to share? 

Frugal Family Activities -- Winter

Are your kids starting to suffer from cabin fever?  Are you looking for some inexpensive ways to keep the kids occupied this winter?  Here are some great ideas you and the kids are sure to love!

Snow Painting -- Go outside and let the kids build snow sculptures.  Then paint them with spray bottles filled with water and a little food

coloring.

Indoor Ice Skating --  Make boots for each child with sheets of wax paper and use rubber bands around the ankles.  Play waltz music on the stereo, and let your child "skate" on the carpet.  Careful, it is slippery, but also a lot of fun!

Make a Bird Feeder -- Have your child spread peanut butter all over a pine cone and cover it with bird seed.  Hang to a tree branch with
ribbon or string.

Make a Rain Stick from Recyclables -- This is a great way to use those
left over cardboard rolls from wrapping paper.  Use corn, pistachio shells, sesame seeds, or rice to fill.  Poke holes in the tube and insert nails or toothpicks to make a neat sound.  Have lot of fun decorating/painting it.

Cinnamon Holiday Ornaments --  Here is a great recipe for these.
You and your child can make them and deliver to a senior living facility.

Ball Pit --  With an inflatable pool, fill with ball pit balls... Tons of fun!

Indoor "Sand" Box --  Fill a large box or Rubbermaid bin... or inflatable pool, with oatmeal, or rice.  Supply lots of funnels, shovels, and cups for the kids to play with.

Bring a Slide Indoors --  If you have a plastic slide that is usually outdoors, clean it off and bring it inside for a day or two.  This is a huge hit!

Paint a Mural --  With rolls of craft paper, you can have lots of fun painting huge murals.  Use a basement or garage if you can.  This is messy, but it is a lot of fun.

Paper Snowflakes -- A winter classic.  Hang them from the ceiling, or decorate them with silver glitter.

Sledding/Tubing --  Bundle the kids up and take them sledding/tubing at the park.  Afterwards warm up with a cup of hot chocolate.

Ice Candles -- Place an empty tin can in the center of a bucket of water. Place the bucket outside and allow it to freeze completely.
Once it is frozen, carefully remove the ice from the bucket and tin can.  Insert a candle where the can was, and you have an ice candle!

Bake Bread --  A great way to kill time and get the kids involved in the kitchen.  Having the oven on and help heat up the house too.

Make Wrapping Paper -- Another great thing to do with a roll of craft paper.  Use red and green ink pads and holiday stamps to decorate sheets of the paper and use as wrapping paper for the holidays.

Build a Fort --  Blankets, chairs, and couch cushions can all be use to build a great indoor fort.

Indoor Beach Party --  Play tropical music on the stereo, wear grass skirts, and teach your kids how to hula!

Paint a Winter Scene --  Mix the white paint with salt for a neat snowy effect.

Visit an Indoor Pool --  Swim in Zone or the Rodale Aquatic Center are
some of the area favorites.

Winter Movie Marathon -- Happy Feet, Polar Express, Elf, etc. Make a big bowl of popcorn to share and snuggle in for the day.